Relaxin in fibrotic ligament diseases: Its regulatory role and mechanism

Abstract

Fibrotic ligament diseases (FLDs) are diseases caused by the pathological accumulation of periarticular fibrotic tissue, leading to functional disability around joint and poor life quality. Relaxin (RLX) has been reported to be involved in the development of fibrotic lung and liver diseases. Previous studies have shown that RLX can block pro-fibrotic process by reducing the excess extracellular matrix (ECM) formation and accelerating collagen degradation in vitro and in vivo. Recent studies have shown that RLX can attenuate connective tissue fibrosis by suppressing TGF-β/Smads signaling pathways to inhibit the activation of myofibroblasts. However, the specific roles and mechanisms of RLX in FLDs remain unclear. Therefore, in this review, we confirmed the protective effect of RLX in FLDs and summarized its mechanism including cells, key cytokines and signaling pathways involved. In this article, we outline the potential therapeutic role of RLX and look forward to the application of RLX in the clinical translation of FLDs.

The relationship between parity, mode of delivery, age at childbirth and bone mineral density: a cross-sectional study

“…Additionally, hormone levels during pregnancy and lactation can impact bone health. Relaxin, a peptide hormone, exhibits increased levels during pregnancy to support normal gestation and has been found to promote osteoclast differentiation in in vitro experiments(Yuan et al 2023;Quagliarello, Steinetz, and Weiss 1979;Ferlin et al 2010). Furthermore, breastfeeding involves the transfer of calcium to the infant through breast milk, resulting in a daily loss of approximately 200 mg of calcium(Salles 2016).…”